James Maddison gives answer Leicester City want to hear over England ambitions

James Maddison is putting his “Leicester head back on” for the club’s relegation run-in and parking thoughts of his England future.

Three-and-a-half years after his first Three Lions cap, Maddison started in the 2-0 win over Ukraine on Sunday to help keep up England’s 100 percent start to Euro 2024 qualifying. While he didn’t trouble the scoresheet, his performance was impressive.

It should mean he is involved again when the group next convene in June for a pair of qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. But Maddison knows he’s got a big task before then.

The 26-year-old has been leading City’s relegation battle in recent weeks, taking the armband in the injury absence of Jonny Evans and Youri Tielemans, and he will return to the club now to prepare for a crucial run of fixtures against their rivals at the bottom, starting with this Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace (3 pm kick-off). He won’t let his England involvement distract him.

Asked about his long-term international ambitions, Maddison chose instead to focus on more short-term matters. He said: “Leicester head back on now, though – it’s too much of an important run-in. And then some good international games to look forward to in the summer.”

Importantly for City, Maddison came through the game without picking up an injury. That wasn’t the case when he went to Qatar for the World Cup, where a knee issue prevented him from featuring When he returned, he missed a month of Premier League football.

The midfielder has now revealed that he had to put on a brave face at times during the World Cup to ensure his low moments over his injury didn’t affect the mood in the group. He believes that helped him earn a recall to Gareth Southgate’s squad this month.

He said: “There were a lot of sad faces when I was in my room in Qatar by myself, thinking: ‘Why? Why now, this little injury, when I’ve worked so hard to get to the World Cup with everyone clamoring for me to be in the squad?’

“There were tough times in my room in Qatar, FaceTiming home. It was almost like a battle with myself to say: ‘Don’t take this for granted. I might not be able to shake this injury off, but it will leave me in good stead if I show Gareth and the people who have questioned my personality that that’s all rubbish.’

“I get on so well with the lads and the staff. What you see from the outside is exactly how it is. I hoped stuff like that would leave me in good stead, and it probably has.”

Maddison also admitted to fears he would never get back into the squad after his 2019 debut, knowing the tough competition for places and how many of his rivals for a spot had already earned Southgate’s trust. Feeling like he’s now won that himself, Maddison was able to impress at Wembley.

He said: “Once you’re out of the squad, it’s tough to get back in because I know Gareth is very loyal, but it was just up to me to try and force my way in. So my aim was to just get back to Leicester, get fit, get strong, play well and hopefully he selects me again, and he did.

“It felt brilliant (to play against Ukraine). It’s refreshing to be out there with the lads in a strong team and a big game. I really enjoyed it.

“I love football, I always say it. I’ve worked hard and waited a long time for that opportunity. It feels like I’ve just been waiting so long to get the manager’s trust, and hopefully, I repaid it with my performance.

“People might have looked at the line-up and seen Maddison’s on the left wing. How’s that going to work? But it’s actually a really nice position for a player like me, especially when you have Ben Chilwell at left-back, who’s such a good runner and such a threat.

“Gareth said to me, ‘Play with freedom, you have the license to play in the pockets just as you do for Leicester’. It just gave me that freedom. I didn’t feel restricted.

“I’ll watch the game back and I’ll probably nit-pick. I probably should have scored, to be honest, but I’ll try and enjoy the moment.”